New Delhi witnessed a landmark presentation on Thursday as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled the Economic Survey 2025-26, spotlighting remarkable strides in India’s education landscape. With over 1.47 million schools educating 246.9 million students supported by more than 10.1 million teachers, India boasts one of the world’s largest school systems.
Progress towards the National Education Policy’s (NEP) goal of 100% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) by 2030 is steady across pre-primary to secondary levels. Primary GER stands at 90.9%, upper primary at 90.3%, secondary at 78.7%, and higher secondary at 58.4%. Initiatives like Poshan Shakti Nirman and Samagra Shiksha have been pivotal in expanding access and equity.
In higher education, the number of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) has jumped from 51,534 in 2014-15 to 70,018 by June 2025, driven by growth in universities and colleges. Student enrolment rose from 43.3 million in 2021-22 to 44.6 million in 2022-23. Premier institutions now include 23 IITs, 21 IIMs, and 20 AIIMS, with new international campuses in Zanzibar and Abu Dhabi.
The survey highlights innovations like Academic Bank of Credits integrating 2,660 institutions and issuing over 46 million ABC IDs. To meet NEP’s 50% GER target by 2035, 153 universities now offer flexible entry-exit options and twice-yearly admissions. Twinning arrangements with foreign universities enable joint and dual degrees, with 15 foreign HEIs eyeing campuses in India.
Skill development is a priority, with structured vocational training in secondary schools to bridge the employability gap. Only 0.97% of 14-18-year-olds receive institutional training, per PLFS 2023-24, underscoring the need to leverage India’s demographic dividend. New ‘Professor of Practice’ categories by UGC and AICTE bolster faculty resources.
Government schemes like 13,076 PM SHRI Schools across 33 states, integration of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) in nearly 300,000 schools and anganwadis, and programs like Jadui Pitara and Bharat Bhasha Pustak Scheme provide localized learning materials. Extending schooling from 3-18 years under NEP’s 5+3+3+4 structure aims to transform human resources into high-quality human capital through a lifecycle approach integrating foundational literacy, numeracy, universal secondary education, and digital skills.
These advancements signal India’s commitment to an inclusive, skill-oriented education system, poised to fuel economic growth and global competitiveness.